Abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate BodyTalk, a novel system of complementary
and alternative medicine (CAM), for the treatment of chronic pain. The study
investigated whether people with chronic pain conditions showed improvements in pain,
emotional factors, and overall health measures following 8 weekly distance BodyTalk
treatments using the on-line Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information
System (PROMIS). The study evaluated 36 subjects, randomized into a treatment (N=19)
and a control group (N=17) using a single-blinded design in Phase I, followed by a
crossover Phase II where the control subjects were treated. Subjects completed PROMIS
assessments to self-report on their pain levels and other factors prior to, throughout the
course of treatment, and 3 months post-treatment. The blinded treatment group showed
significant improvements compared to the control group for pain level (p=0.0486),
anxiety (p=0.034), and satisfaction with social role measures (p=0.035). Fatigue, overall
physical and mental health showed significance in the pooled treatment group data. This
initial evaluation of BodyTalk suggests that this mind-body CAM system is effective in
reducing pain level as well as emotional symptoms associated with long-term chronic
pain. A larger scale replication study with strong statistical power is warranted to validate
and confirm these preliminary findings.